Phoebus' Brown Ponders Prep School Early

January 21, 2003|By NORM WOOD Daily Press

Phoebus High School's Philip Brown must decide whether he should stay or go.

Brown, a highly recruited cornerback who committed to Virginia last Wednesday, is considering leaving Phoebus in the second semester of his senior year to attend either Fork Union Military Academy or Hargrave Military Academy. If he leaves Phoebus, he will likely spend three semesters -- one this school year and two next school year -- at prep school.

Phoebus coach Bill Dee said it's a "definite possibility" Brown will need to improve both his grades and SAT scores in prep school in order to go to college.

"It's a consideration (to start prep school early), but it's going to be up to Philip and his mom," said Dee, who was named the 2002 Riddell Footwear High School All-American team's National Coach of the Year last week. "I think it's important to look at all the alternatives. I don't think it's a bad thing for him to go to Fork Union early."

John Shuman, FUMA's football coach, confirmed Monday he had been contacted by U.Va.'s coaches concerning Brown's prep schooling. Shuman said he will address Brown's situation after national signing day on Feb. 5.

"This is the hardest way to qualify," Shuman said. "You're asking a kid to come to a prep school and get high-end grades and work on test scores at the same time. He won't have a lot of room to slide."

FUMA has two terms remaining in its five-term school year. Brown could enroll for FUMA's fourth term, which begins Feb. 18, or the fifth term, which starts in mid-April.

Norm Wood can be reached at 247-4642 or by e-mail at nwood@dailypress.com